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Cod as food

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Cod and its relatives are essential food sources for many cultures around the world. These fish belong to the Gadidae family, which includes species like haddock, pollock, and whiting. Cod is valued for its mild flavor and dense, flaky white flesh.

Fried Fish and French Fries
Fried Fish and French Fries

Because cod possesses both fins and scales, it is considered kosher under the laws of kashrut. Beyond the main fillets, many different parts of the fish are utilized for food. The soft liver can be canned or fermented into cod liver oil. This oil provides essential nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA.

Russian Cod liver in an opened can
Russian Cod liver in an opened can

Preparation methods vary significantly depending on the species and the region. For example, young Atlantic cod or haddock prepared in strips is called scrod. In some culinary traditions, even the less common parts are prized. The cod cheek and the cod tongue—which is actually the lower jaw and chin barbel—are considered delicacies. In Portugal, the swim bladder is also a traditional food.

Preserved Codfish Bodara
Preserved Codfish Bodara

Different species require different preservation techniques. While cod can be salted, haddock does not salt well. Instead, haddock is often preserved through drying and smoking. In Grimsby, England, the smoking of haddock is a highly refined skill. Many of these smokehouses are family-run businesses that have passed their expertise down through many generations.

Grimsby Traditional Smoked Haddock
Grimsby Traditional Smoked Haddock

Specific types of smoked fish have unique names and preparation methods. Finnan haddie is a type of haddock named after the Scottish village of Finnan or Findon. It was originally cold-smoked over peat and is often poached in milk for breakfast. Another example is the Arbroath Smokie from the east coast of Scotland. This is a hot-smoked haddock that requires no further cooking before it is eaten. Smoked haddock often has an off-white color, so it is frequently dyed yellow. This smoked fish is a vital ingredient in the Anglo-Indian dish known as kedgeree.

Pollock serves as a versatile and often more affordable alternative to cod and haddock. While it is a whitefish, it has a stronger flavor than cod. In the United Kingdom, pollock is frequently used in minced forms, such as in fish fingers.

Fishfinger classic fried 2
Fishfinger classic fried 2

In Norway, it is often made into fried fish balls.

fishball closeup
fishball closeup

Different cultures also use unique drying methods for pollock. In Korea, the fish may be repeatedly frozen and melted to create hwangtae. In Orkney, year-old fish are split, salted, and dried over a peat hearth. This process gives the fish a wooden texture and a phosphorescent appearance. In Germany, salted and smoked pollock is sold as Seelachs, or "sea salmon."

Global culinary traditions have created many famous dishes using these fish. In Jamaica, the national dish is ackee and saltfish, which features sautéed salt cod with ackee and spices.

Ackee and Saltfish
Ackee and Saltfish

Puerto Rican and Dominican Republic cuisine includes bacalaíto, which are crispy salt cod fritters.

Bacalaíto and fried pork
Bacalaíto and fried pork

In Italy, the Venetian appetizer baccalà mantecato consists of whipped salt cod.

. Portugal also enjoys bacalhau à brás, a dish made with salt cod, eggs, onions, and matchstick-sized potatoes.

Bacalhau a Bras
Bacalhau a Bras

History shows that these fish have helped people manage scarce resources. In 18th-century Scotland, fishing communities made dishes like crappit heid, or stuffed head. They used the offal and less attractive parts because expensive fillets were sold at markets. Similarly, fishcakes became a way to use up leftover fish and potatoes.

Fishcake on salad
Fishcake on salad

In Newfoundland, cod was so abundant that "fish and brewis" became a local delicacy. This meal consists of cod and hard bread, often served with scrunchions, which are small pieces of fried salted pork fat.

FishAndBrewisWithScrunchions
FishAndBrewisWithScrunchions

Modern fishing and consumption of these species face new challenges. In 2010, Greenpeace International added haddock to its seafood red list. This list identifies fish commonly sold in supermarkets that are at high risk from unsustainable fisheries. Because of the over-fishing of cod and haddock, pollock has become more popular in recent years. In 2009, the U.K. supermarket Sainsbury's even renamed pollock "Colin" to encourage eco-friendly sales. They hoped the new name would help shoppers feel more comfortable buying the fish as an alternative to cod.

Fried Fish and French Fries
Fried Fish and French Fries
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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Preserved Codfish Bodara.jpg
Preserved Codfish Bodara.jpg
File:Russian Cod liver in an opened can.jpg
Russian Cod liver in an opened can.jpg
File:Ackee and Saltfish.jpg
Ackee and Saltfish.jpg
File:Bacalaíto and fried pork.jpg
Bacalaíto and fried pork.jpg
File:" 13 - ITALY - Cicchetti Venetian cuisine appetizers restaurant ( not are tapas are ciccheti of Venice) in this pics Baccalà mantecato (Cod).jpg
" 13 - ITALY - Cicchetti Venetian cuisine...
File:Bacalhau a Bras.jpg
Bacalhau a Bras.jpg
File:Cullen Skink.JPG
Cullen Skink.JPG
File:FishAndBrewisWithScrunchions.jpg
FishAndBrewisWithScrunchions.jpg
File:fishball closeup.jpg
fishball closeup.jpg
File:Fishcake on salad.jpg
Fishcake on salad.jpg
File:Fishfinger classic fried 2.jpg
Fishfinger classic fried 2.jpg
File:Fried_Fish_and_French_Fries.jpg
Fried_Fish_and_French_Fries.jpg

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